newcomers move into the big city and drown out that old draw. >> you can find it much more easily when you go to rural parts of texas, it's still there. but it's not as generally used in the city like austin. >> reporter: at the university of texas, they're studying the slow demise of this slice of southern identity, comparing dialect in recordings made almost 30 years apart. >> i like growing up in the country. when my chores were done, i would ride my horse. >> climb trees or hike, fish or swim. >> reporter: bob hinkle isn't writing the twang's obituary just yet. >> you bear down on them r's a little bit, drop your g's and just slow down and talk to where people can understand you. >> reporter: the 82-year-old taught old hollywood to talk texan. >> sometimes i lean to one side of it, sometimes i lean to the other. >> reporter: stars like paul newman and james dean spent weeks perfecting the twang. >> i'm not complaining. >> reporter: patricia neal even thanked him when she won the 1963 oscar for best actress. >> you look pretty good without your shirt on, you know? >> i think the twa